THIS WEEK IN 1984: £40,000 damages for man hit by '˜flying door'

The married father-of-two settled out of court during the lunch time adjournment in an action against Hampshire Ambulance Service.

He sued after being injured when the door of an ambulance broke free of its plastic catches in high winds as he lifted a patient onto a stretcher.

‘I was half-straightened up when the door came at me. It happened so quickly and I must have twisted awkwardly,’ Mr Knight, 39, told the High Court sitting in Winchester.

Barrister R Turner said his client was out of work for a year before getting a light job for less wages in November, 1982. There were later new requirements for the door holders in question.

Mr Justice Forbes said there appeared to be a whole host of cases where the wind had clearly been too strong for the catches.

He approved a settlement in which Mr Knight, of Hilsea, received £38,000 plus costs.

A similar case was settled just a day before Mr Knight’s.